Holder for tubular lamps



July 27, 1948. w, HAVEN 7 2,446,154

HOLDER FOR TUBULAR LAMPS Fig: 1

Filed Dec. 29, 1945 2 *heets-Sheet 1 "I 1 f a 45 Fig.3

f I5 h 26 (4,1 T?" at 7 5 s 25 R 35 as as INVENTOR Rosier (Haven ATTORNEY July 27, 1948. R. w. HAVEN 2,446,154

HOLDER FOR TUBULAR LAMPS Filed Dec. 29, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Rosier (Haven BY ATTORNEY Patented July 27, 1948 HOLDER. FOR TUBULAR LAMPS Roger W. Haven, Winchester, Mass, assignor to Sylvania Electric Products Inc., Salem, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 29, 1945, Serial No. 638.045

7 Claims. 176-32) This invent-ion relates to holders for gaseous discharge lamps and particularly to the type of holders adapted to receive connector pins projecting endwise from the bases of tubular lamps.

It is an object of the invention to provide a lamp holding device in which a. lamp may be inserted and removed with a minimum of effort and maximum of safety.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lamp hOldll'lg device the major components of which are held together by a single fastening means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lamp holding means the components of which are composed of only two major insulating body elements acting when assembled to clamp certain of the current conducting elements thereof in operating position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lamp holding means the components of which not only receive the connector pins of the lamp but also embrace the base at the ends of the lamp from which the pins project thus a secure interlock is established.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lamp holding device which provides maximum protectionagainst contact with live current con ducting elements thereof when the lamp is out of its operating position and also while it is being inserted in its holders.

Other objects and features will more fully appear from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention provides means for supporting and energizing gaseous discharge lamps and consists of a pair of holding devices which engage the respective ends of the lamp.

The holders are composed of a hollow body member of insulating material having its front face open to permit assembly of its internal parts. The body member has secured thereto an integral front plate which acts to close the body member and serve to receive and hold one end of a lamp.

At least one of the holding members is provided with an opening in its front plate through which the end of a lamp may be passed. A movable abutment member is situated in line with the opening in the plate and held in contact with the inner face thereof by means of a spring the 0pposite end of which is seated against the rear wall of the body member. A metal contact plate is placed against the inner wall of the moveable abutment member and under the spring. The abutment has a central aperture therein through which the contact pin of the lamp extends to contact the metal plate.

A conductor member is situated within the body member and is engaged by the spring. The conductor member has means for connection to a lamp energizing circuit. Means are provided to guide the abutment in alignment with the lamp receiving aperture when a lamp is inserted therein.

A somewhat different structure is employed for the holding member for the other end of the lamp. The body portion is the same as for the other holder member. Its front plate, however, is provided with a recess to receive the end portion of the lamp. The bottom of this recess has a central aperture through which the lamp pin projects to contact a pair of spring conductor members across which the pin makes contact to complete the lamp energizing circuit.

To present a better understanding of the invention a preferred embodiment thereof will be described and illustrated in the drawings in which Fig. 1 is a general view of a preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of a holder at one end of the lamp taken upon the line 2! Fig- 3.

Fig. 3 is a cross section through the lamp holder taken on line 3-3 Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation view of the body member of the holders with certain parts removed Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the body member.

Fig. 6 is a rear view of the front cover plate for the body member of one of the lamp holders.

Fig. 7 is a rear view of the front cover plate for the lamp holder, which supports the other end of the lamp.

Fig. 8 is a partial longitudinal section of the assembled holder for the end of the lamp opposite 'to that held by the holder shown in Fig. 2.

Figs. 9 and 10 are front elevational views of the holders at the respective ends of a lamp.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a desirable method of electrically connecting the holders and lamp to an electrical supply circuit.

The invention includes a pair of lamp holding devices I and 2 which may be attached to a supporting surface 3 or to a fixture having one or several lamps.

The lamp holding devices comprise a hollow body member 4 of insulating material which desirably has a generally rectangular lower portion and a semi-cylindricaltop portion.

The rear of the body portion is closed by an imperfora-ted wall 5 while the front portion is provided with a rabbeted edge 6 to receive and securely position a unitary front closure plate 1 of insulating material which covers the Whole front area of the body member and has a complementary rabbet along its edge to fit into the rabbet on the. body member. The rear wall '5 desirably is offset inwardly at 8 to reduce the front to back dimension of the lower portion of the body 4 to facilitate the placement of power supply wires in certain types of installations and to insure compactness of the assembled holder. Such construction is of advantage when lighting fixtures are installed in continuous alignment.

To permit lead wires to enter the holder an aperture =9 is formed at the bottom-of the portion 8 of the rear wall 5.

The body 4 and front plate I are held together by a screw l passing through an aperture I! in the wall 8, through'a bridge portion of the body to be described and thence through an aperture in the front plate I.

Desirably the front plate is provided with a recess I2 to receive a nut I3 within which is received the threaded end of screw '10. The nut and screw acting to secure the body and plate together.

The front plates of each of the respective holding members i and 2 differ in construction. The plate l of the holder i is provided with an aperture H3 in its upper portion of a size to permit the lamp l to pass therethrough. Resilient means are provided to bear against the lamp end and to make electrical contact with the pin 16 projecting from the end of the lamp.

The resilient means comprises a moveable abutment member of insulating material within the body which is held against the inner face of the plate 1 in axial alignment with the aperture l4 when no lamp is present. The abutment I! has a central aperture it of a size to permit the pin it to extend therethrough and engage a metallic plate I 9 resting against the inner face of the abutment ll. Desirably the metal plate I9 is provided with a central portion shaped to receive the end of the pin H5 or an aperture smaller than the pin.

The large end of a conically shaped compression spring 20 bears against the plate l9 while its other end engages a conductor member 24 which in turn bears against the rear wall 5 of the body I.

When a lamp is inserted through the aperture I4 the abutment is pushed inward to substantially the full depth of the hollow body. The

conical form of the spring permits it to fold up flat and thus permit maximum movement of the abutment thereby to permit the lamp to penetrate the holder a substantial distance.

The abutment I1 is guided and held in alignment with its front face parallel to the front plate I by engagement with the walls of the upper semi-cylindrical portion of the body 4 and the upper surface of a bridge portion 22 which extends from a wall portion 8 forward to substantially the plane of the front plate l. The bridge portion 22 desirably is formed integral with the body i. The aperture H for the screw it is formed in the portion 22 thus insulating the screw from all live current conducting members within the holder.

The bridge portion 22 extends between the side walls of the body for a portion of its length from back to front to present a pair of webportions 23 presenting vertical front surfaces 24, Desirably the web portions 23are hollowed to provide lightness.

The inner face of the plate I is'provided with projecting lugs 25 which extend toward the faces 24 and are spaced a short distance therefrom when the body and plate are secured in operating position. Desirably the projections 23 are hollowed out for lightness.

The conductor member 2i desirably is of sheet metal and is provided with an upset portion 26 which projects into the end of and acts to position the spring 20. The conductor extends along the rear wall 5 and is bent to lie along the top face of one of the web portions 23 then across the face of the surface 24 and is bent back upon itself to present connector tab portions 27 within which is received a screw 28 for securing a power feed Wire thereto.

An important feature of the invention residesin the manner in which the conductor member 2i is clamped between the abutting ends of the bridge member 23 and the projection 25 upon the plate member I. The assembly screw I0 acts not only to secure the two major parts of the holder but also to rigidly clamp the conductor member 2!. The chamber 29 formed by hollowing out the web portions 23 provides a space for the end of the screw 28. 1

The electrical circuit for the holder comprises the conductor 2i, the spring 20 and the plate 69 which engages the pin it of the lamp. Both holders 8 and 2 are provided with a mounting bracket 3b in the form of a plate bent into an angle iron form, its upright portion being secured to the respective front plates of the holders by screws 34 which pass through the bracket, through the bottom portion of the front plates and have threaded engagement with a securing plate 32 bearing against the inner face of the respective front plates. The plate 32 is held in proper position when the front plate is detached from the body 4 by a small screw 33 having threaded engagement within the insulating material of the front plate. The mounting bracket 36 may have any desired shape to suit a given mounting requirement. v

The holder 2 is of different construction in respect to its front plate 34 which is constructed to snugly fit within the body 4 in the same manner as that of the plate I. The plate 34 is made of insulating material and i provided with a recess 35 to receive the end portion of the lamp. An aperture 36 is formed in the bottom wall of the recess 35 to receive the pin 31 of the lamp.

The inner face of the plate 34 is provided with a pair of projections 38 extending inward toward the faces 24 of the portions23 .of the body 4. The inner faces of the projections 38 terminate close to the faces 24 and are provided with shallow recesses 39 within which are received the fixed ends of a pair of electrical conductors 40 which desirably are made of thin spring metal such as bronze and which extend upward and inward to a position in line with and a short distance from the aperture 36. The upper ends 4| of the conductors are so shaped and positioned that the lamp pin 31 will resiliently engage and electrically inter-connect the two members 40.

To rigidly anchor the conductors 40 and provide means for connecting them to the lamp energizin source, metallic clips 42 are provided. The clips are provided with a clamping portion received in the recesses 39 and overlying the conductors 40. Desirably the clips 42 are provided 5 with connector tabs 43 bent at substantially 90 to the clamping portion.

The tabs 43 are provided with screws 44 by means of which power supply wires are connected to the holder. The conductors 40 and clips 42 are held in the recesses 39 by means of a small screw 45 passing therethrough and having screw threaded engagement in the material of the plate 24. The screw 45 serves to hold the parts in position when the front plate'is removed from the body. Whenthe front plate is secured to the body by the screw 20 the conductors are securely clamped between the surface 24 and the outer surface of the projections 38. The conductors 40 are held in lateral alignment by means of the narrow rim 46 extending around the recess 80. An additional means for aligning the member 40 and 42 is provided. An aperture 48 is formed in the projections 38 and an aperture 49 is formed in the conductors 40 to register with the aperture 44. A dimple I is formed in the member 42 in position to project through the aperture 49 and into the aperture 48. The dimple 50 not only .serves as a locking device when the holder is assembled but also expedites the rapid and accurate sub-assembly of the parts prior to the assembly of the body 4 and plate 34.

The completed lamp holders are mounted upon an attaching surface by means of the attaching plates 30. The holders may be mounted directly upon a supporting surface 3 or upon a fixture chassis and spaced apart a. distance less than the length of the lamp an amount substantially twice the length of the lamp bases.

To install the lamp l one of its ends is placed in the aperture 1 4 and pushed into the holder against the abutment I! and the tension of the spring 20 a distance sufllcient to permit the lamp to be moved into alignment with the recess 35 in the holder 2 at which time the spring 20 is permitted to move the lamp lengthwise until it is seated in the recess 35. at which time the lamp pin in the holder I will connect with the conductor 2| while the other lamp pin will complete the circuit between the conductors 40.

To light the lamp it is simply necessary to connect the metallic conductors in the holders i and 2 to a source of current of the proper voltage.

A feature of the specific arrangement of contact shown however, effects protection against bodily injury from contact with live conductors while inserting a lamp.

The protective circuit arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 11 wherein. the lamp is energized from an auto-transformer ii, the primary 52 of which is connected to a commercial source of alternating current of relatively low potential.

The two conductors 4|! in the holder 2 are connected in series in the primary 52 while the secondary terminal 53 is connected to the conductor 2! in the holder I.

When the lamp holders are thus connected in the circuit and the main switch 54 is closed by accident or otherwise it is impossible for an operator to receive injury from contact with a high voltage element. When the lamp is installed, one of its ends is first inserted in the holder 2 where its pin engages the conductor 2|. At this time the primary of the transformer 5| is open circuited because the conductors 40 are not bridged.

No high voltage can be present in the circuit therefore at this time. The circuit can never be closed until the other end of the lamp is seated in the holder 2 at which time the lamp pin bridges th conductors 40 which closes the pri- 6 mary I2 thus lighting the lamp. when the lamp is in its operating position all portions of the circuit are covered.

The combination of the holders and lamp presents a very attractive and symmetrical appearance.

Prior to the present invention the bases upon the ends of lamps of the type described when held by these holders are exposed to view and tend to detract from the appearance of the assembly. In some instances one lamp base is exposed and the other concealed which causes a very irregular and unsatisfactory appearance,

The present invention provides a practical, efilcient and attractive means for supporting and energizing the lamp.

To seal the lampholders against an accumulation of dirt and moisture a flexible ring may be placed upon the lamp ends before it is installed and moved tightly against the front of the holders after the lamp is in operating position as shown in Fig. 2. The sealing ring not only prevents accumulation of foreign matter in theholders but acts as a vibration damper in industrial installations.

What I claim is:

1-. In combination with a tubular lamp having endwise projecting conductor pins a lamp holder for tubular lamps comprising a hollow body of insulating material having its entire front face open, a plate of insulating material covering the front of said body and secured thereto, said plate having an aperture therein through which an end of a lamp may pass, resilient contact means movable within said body substantially upon the axis of said aperture, said contact means having a protective outer member of insulating material and an inner contact plate for engagement with one of said lamp pins a current carrying conductor within said body connected to said contact plate and having means for connection to a power source and a pair of opposed clamping faces disposed respectively upon said body and plate acting to clamp said conductor therebetween and in operating position.

2. In combination with a tubular lamp having endwise projecting conductor pins, a lamp holder, comprising a hollow body of insulating material having its entire front face open, a plate of in.- sulating material covering the front face of and secured to said body, a recess in said plate embracing the end of said lamp and having a depth to substantially enclose the base of the lamp, current conductor means within the body and engaged by one of the pins on said lamp when received in said recess, means on said conductor for connection to a power source, and opposed clamping faces respectively upon the body the body and plate of the holder, said faces acting to clamp the current conductor means thereof in operating position.

3. In combination with a tubular lamp having endwise projecting connector pins, a pair oi. lamp holders to embrace the ends of the lamp at least one of said holders comprising a hollow body member extending a substantial distance beyond the ends of the lamp and having its entire front face open, a unitary front plate of insulating material closing the entire front of said body, means to secure the plate and body together, said front plate having an aperture therein to permit the end of the lamp to pass therethrough, a moveable abutment of insulating material within said body and in axial alignment with said aperture, an aperture in said abutment to permit the lamp pin a 7 to project therethrough, a metallic contact upon the inner face of said abutment engaged by said lamppinv resilient means urgingsaid abutment toward the lamp and electrical conductor means for conducting current to the said contact plate and lamp pin. I

4. In combination with a tubular lamp having endwise projecting conductor pins, a pair of lamp holders for receiving the ends of the lamp each holder comprising a hollow body member extending a substantial distance beyond the end of the lamp and having its entire front end open, a front closure plate of insulating material, means for securing said plate to said body said plates having an aperture through which the lamp pins project, current conducting means within said body and disposed to engage said lamp-pins, a rigid bridge of insulating material within said body presenting a substantially flat face, disposed a short distance from and parallel tothe face onsaid bridge; said opposed faces acting to clamp the said conductor-means therebetween when the body and plate are assembled.

5. In combination with a tubular lamp having endwise projecting conductor pins, a pair of holders for engaging the ends of the'lamp each holder comprising a hollow body member of insulating material extending a substantiaidistan'ce beyond gaging said pin and provided with means for connection to a source of current. said other holder having a recess in its front plate to receive the end of the lamp and an aperture in the bottom wall of the recess through which the lamp pin extends. and current conducting means within the body engaging the pin and having means for connection to a source of current.

6. In combination with a tubular lamp having endwise projecting conductor pins a pair of holdera for embracing the lamp ends and supplying energy to the lamp each holder comprising a hol low body member of insulating material extending a substantial distance beyond the ends of the lamp and having its entire front open, front plates of insulating material secured to and acting completely to close the front of said body members, conductor means within said body members acting to engage the pins on said lamp, one of said holders having an aperture in its front plate through which the lamp end may pass, and resilient means moveable in said body and resiliently engaging the lamp end, said other holder having a recess in its front plate to embrace the lamp end, current conductor means within said holder engaging the lamp pin and having means for connection to a source of electric current and v a pair of opposed clamping faces upon the respectivebody and front plates of said holders acting .to clamp the said current conductors therebetween when the holders are assembled.

7. In combination with a tubular lamp having endwise projecting conductor pins a lamp holder comprising. the elements defined in claim 1 together with a guiding surface formed integrally with said body and acting to engage and guide the said resilient contact means along the axis of the said aperture within the said rront plate.

ROGER W. HAVEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,393,180 Merrill Jan. 15, 1946 2,393,616 De Reamer et a1. Jan. 29, 1946 

